Happy New Year, swan demesne!
Ruins so glorious!
Happy New Year — in foreign lands —
Knapsack-bearing warriors!
Red pursuit, mouth foaming,
Not caught up, will dance,
Happy New Year — homeland,
Beaten in the race!
The whole Earth sings with a toast song
To the earth do lean!
Thus, Igor — weeps with Yaroslav
Russia over the sea.
Moaning tiredly, quenches sorrow:
My brother! My knight! My son!
Happy New Year, beyond blue seas
Russia oh-so-young.
С Новым Годом, Лебединый стан!
Славные обломки!
С Новым Годом — по чужим местам —
Воины с котомкой!
С пеной у́ рта пляшет, не догнав,
Красная погоня!
С Новым Годом — битая — в бегах
Родина с ладонью!
Приклонись к земле — и вся земля
Песнею заздравной.
Это, Игорь, — Русь через моря
Плачет Ярославной.
Томным стоном утомляет грусть:
— Брат мой! — Князь мой! — Сын мой!
— С Новым Годом, молодая Русь
За́ морем за синим!
«(An epigram to a silhoette ) From rooftop to rooftop a rope is tied taut. / Upon it, an acrobat's fame is sought. A stick in his hands, he's at ease, like a scale / The spectators lean, strain their necks, "Will he fail?" The crowds shove, whisper, "Look, look, he might fall..." / The hustl...»
«(Stray hint) Like nebula you were obscured, / A glimmer in the moonlit heights, / In glowing flesh, embodied lure — / You now appear before my sight. Engaged in proper conversation / With a bewildered look I lift / A long, thin hair in hesitation — / Stray hint, which on my shoulde...»
«So? Hot grog or cognac poured to waylay? / From chills to cold - the route is barred. / Through dishes' jingling, music's playing — / The lilac twilight cloaks the bar. As if entombed by thick and solid / And smooth expanse of polished glass, / Light blue aquarium is gorged with stolid...»
«I come undone and any ploy, / Insanity’d be welcome now, / They stroll toward me (by Fate employed) / An armless man with pregnant spouse. An angel hands a lyre to me, / The world turns lucid — crystal glassed, / While they, called up by new marquee, / Will gape at Charlie’s lates...»